Friday, November 29

This morning our helper of the day completed our November calendar for the last time; on Monday we'll start our December calendar with new learning tasks for our daily helper to take us through. Next, we visited the book fair put on by grade 4 students.  We walked around to students who were very happy to chat with us about a book they had read.  Well done Grade 4, we were very impressed.  We came back to class and each student decorated their own headband fo Crazy Hat Day.  In FLA, we reviewed how to make a statement in the negative form, using "ne" and "pas."  We also talked about when to use the "n.'"  Students then created 6 "ne...pa" sentences on their own, using their dictionary and journals.  We finished off the day by guessing what our Star of the Week put in the mystery box.  On  Monday, we will re-do our cooler/ice cube experiment to see who's cooler can keep the ice cube frozen for the longest.  Students who were absent will also get a chance to participate too.
Yesterday. I mistakenly said we will be going to the library next Thursday, Dec. 5 but we will be going Tuesday, Dec. 10.  We go every Day 5, and while next Thursday is Dec. 5 it is not a Day 5.

Thursday, November 28

I was not feeling well yesterday and was not at school.  That's why there was no blog post.  Please remember to send along your child's home reading books as well as their red duotangs.  We'll change books and I'll put in the December Words of the Week into the red duotang.  We visited the library today and we'll go again on Thursday, Dec. 5.  Tomorrow is Crazy Hat day and we will be making our own headbands in Room 8.  Students are also welcome to wear a special hat from home if they would like.
This morning students worked to build the reading stamina and achieved their goal of 19 minutes-congratulations Room 8!  We visited the library and then spent the period before lunch building our coolers.  Wow, this was very exciting for everyone.  After lunch each student was given an ice cube and they placed it in their cooler.  Every 30 minutes students checked on their ice cube to see if there was still ice or if it had melted to water.  By the end of the day, almost everyone still had ice in their "cooler."  I've not had this happen before so we'll repeat the experiment on Monday and see who has the longest lasting ice cube in their cooler!  Stay tuned till Monday. 

Tuesday, November 26

A snowy Tuesday! This morning we used last week's words of the week in sentences, as we didn't have time to write them with only 3 days at school.  Students also wrote a pre-test about how to change a statement to a negative statement.  Ie: "Elle ne joue pas chez son amie."  In math, students corrected their place value work and completed an assessment on place value.  In the afternoon, students finished up some work from yesterday's presentation on Saskatoon in the Past and you will find their "cup and ball" art project in their green folder.  In science we learned about what to do to cool and warm up a room.  We finished up our day with gym with M. Trevor.

Please continue to send in recycled materials/items for our cooler building project.  I'm hoping to build the coolers on Thursday.  Friday is "Crazy Hat Day" so feel free to send in any kind of hat to wear if you'd like your child to participate.

Monday, November 25

An exciting day with our Saskatoon presentation in the afternoon.  A special thanks to our parent volunteers, who took over the teaching for the afternoon :).  This morning students wrote in their journals and we listened to our Star of the Week present her poster.  We enjoyed Mme. Zdrill's music class, as well as a quick science lesson about sources of heat.  We also squeezed in our Math Monday game.  

A message from the office...

FOOD BANK DONATIONS NEEDED

We are collecting non-perishable food items for the Mayor's Food Bank Drive until December 19.  Items can include:  Pasta sauce, granola bars, juice boxes, powdered milk, stage three baby food, peanut butter, pasta, rice, soup cans or packages, cereal, oatmeal, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned beans, canned fruit, pancake/bread/biscuit mixes, gluten-free pasta, etc.  Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, November 20

Students enjoyed presenting their big books with a beginning, middle and end to the rest of the class, and we certainly enjoyed listening to them!  In math we finished a lesson on addition strategies from yesterday.  We continued to learn about Saskatoon in preparation for our presentation on Monday with Teacher's Pet. Students had gym and we enjoyed centre time last period of the day. 
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for parent-teacher interviews.  Enjoy your long weekend.

Tuesday, November 19

Students were able to finish up their group stories.  Tomorrow they'll share them during our French language arts period.  They are very excited to read and share their work.  In math we continued to use addition strategies to solve a double digit addition problem with out re-grouping.  Students continued their volleyball lessons with M. Trevor.  We had an exciting science class and we stepped into the role of a scientist.  We had a question, procedure, listed materials and conducted our experiment.  We finished off with a graph; conclusion about our experiment and our findings.  Ask students about it!  We played the Math Monday once more and it should be in your child's green folder.  Scholastic book orders were sent home yesterday and are due on Thursday.

Monday, November 18

This morning students wrote in their journals about their weekend, we visited the library and played our Math Monday game.  I'm sorry but I've forgotten to place the Math Monday instructions in your child's green folder.  I'll be sure and do that tomorrow.  In social studies, we reviewed where Saskatoon is in Saskatchewan and looked at the Ukrainian flag, as many of the original settlers were from the Ukraine.  Students began their unit on "volleyball" with M. Trevor.

Friday, November 15

A busy but short day.  This morning students continued writing their group story. We had M. Trevor join us with the i-Pads and students selected, took a picture, and uploaded their favourite journal entry into the internet program IRIS.  Students have written down their username and password for you so you can see their work.  If you have any trouble logging in, just let me know.  Please keep this password somewhere safe so you can check your child's work.  I'll let you know when we upload new things.  If you just type in IRIS you would be able to find the CBE's site.  We'll visit the library on Monday so please send in books.

Thursday, November 14

I was away this afternoon at a math assessment learning series but here is what students got up to today.  In the morning, our helper of the day presented our calendar and students visited Mme. Zdrill for music.  Students had another period to work on creating their stories and in math students continued to work on addition strategies, specifically we talked about efficient and inefficient strategies.  For example in the question 17 + 12= counting blocks is not the more efficient strategy.
In the afternoon, students worked on using the 5 words of the week (the "an" sound) and listened to our Star of the Week present a special item and his favourite book.

Wednesday, November 13

Students have really taken off with the writing project, where they must come up with a story with a beginning, middle and end based on some large sized books I've given them.  They are actually asking me if they can continue to write their story. :) Students were given another period today to work on this assignment.  In Math, students wrote the MIPI (Mathematics Intervention Programming Instrument), which is provided by Edmonton Public Schools.  It's an assessment of a Grade 2 students understanding of math concepts covered in Grade 1.  This assessment is not used for report card purposes; it is more for me to understand where I might need to spend more time on or perhaps less time on.
Also in Math we played Math Monday and then placed the instructions in the green folder for you.  In Science, we watched 3 more short weather forecasts and then students practiced what they are going to say when they given their weather report. Finally in social studies, we finished up discussing Alberta and are ready to move on to Saskatoon. Students enjoyed gym with M. Trevor last period, where they are working on catching and throwing.

Times for the November Parent/Teacher Conferences

Hello families, Just a reminder that November's Parent/Teacher Conferences for Kindergarten to Grade 5 are next THURSDAY, November 21 from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  There is no school for students on Thursday. On Wednesday, November 20, our Kindergarten students have Student/Involved Conferences so their is no classes for Kindergarten on Wednesday, November 20.  Grades 1-5 have regular school on Wednesday.  Friday is a Professional Learning Day for teachers so there is no school for students on this day. The conference booking system opens tomorrow at 4:00 for families. Please see the VAS website for a reminder of other non-instruction days throughout the school year.  This information can be found at: http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/varsityacres/Pages/default.aspx under 'Calendar'.

Tuesday, November 12

This morning, students participated in their first round of guided reading.  There is still some work to be done on the reading expectations but things went quite well.  We also heard from our Star of the Week. In math, we again looked at strategies that can be used when doing addition.  Students also continued to do some place value work and Thursday students will write an assessment.  Also in FLA in the afternoon, students were placed into groups of 4 and asked to make a story with a beginning, middle and end. Each group was given a large, French book that they could cut up to make their own story.  We'll continue this work all week.  Ask your child about their story.  Students had music today and we went outside for a movement break in the afternoon. 
We did not get to Math Monday game and I don't like to send it home unless we have a chance to first play in class.  I'll teach them the game tomorrow and will sent it home for you. 

Friday, November 8

I was away this morning but here is what students did.  Students learned Remembrance Day vocabulary and used these words in sentences.  Students also used the words of the week (the "ch" sound) in their journals. Students participated in Varsity's Remembrance Day assembly.

Here is a message from the office:

VASPFS HOLIDAY PURDYS FUNDRAISER IS HERE!!!

We are once again fundraising with Purdys chocolatier for the holiday season! VASPFS will receive 25% of all sales.

To order online, go to fundraising.purdys.com and click Login or Create New Account

Then click Join Campaign. Our customer number is 28645.

All orders must be placed by Monday, November 25th.

Orders can be picked up on Thursday December 5th between 3-5pm in the school gym.

You may forward this info to any friends or relatives that would like to participate!

Any questions? Please email VASPFS@gmail.com

Thank you for your support

Thursday, November 7

This morning we discussed the purpose of Remembrance Day and why it is important to remember.  Students spent one last period finishing up their Halloween stories.  We read a book together and students made a journal entry about what happened in the beginning, middle and end of the book.
Students painted crosses and drew poppies to place on them.  This took a little longer than expected so we didn't get to our math lesson.  Students drew and wrote sentences for our Star of the Week and participated in gym class.
Don't forget to send along red duotangs and the home reading books tomorrow for exchange.  Also just a reminder that there is no school Monday, November 11 due to Remembrance Day.

Room 8's Remembrance Day Crosses

Wednesday, November 6

Tomorrow is PJ day for those students who would like to participate.  Students may also bring in one stuffie.  As always, super special things should be kept at home.  In FLA, students worked to finish up their Halloween vocabulary.  In math, students worked individually to solve place value questions, specifically around the importance of making 10.  It was exceptionally quiet in our room, and later we discussed the how sometimes it's just nice to work on your own, in a quiet space where you can think.  We also discuss how not everyone likes quiet, individual work and they prefer talking about their learning with others.  It's important to have a mix of quiet, independent works time and more cooperative work time.  After math, students enjoyed a loud, active PE lesson.
In the afternoon, we talked about things around us that give off heat, such as a candle, light and toaster; and things which don't give off heat-desk, ice-cream cone, chair.  In social studies, we each talked about which community we belong to and reviewed where Alberta is on a map of Canada.  We also enjoyed our Star of the Week talk to us about tap dance (pictured below.)